Science as a Process: An Evolutionary Account of the Social and Conceptual Development of Science

Hull, David L.

ISBN 10: 0226360504 / ISBN 13: 9780226360508

Published by University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1988

About this Item

Scholarly study of the scientific process, especially as seen in zoology; Hull was a philosopher & historian of zoology who edited the journal Systematic Zoology and served as president of the Society of Systematic Zoology. Here he discusses shifts in scientific thought, and the systems that produce them, paralleling the process to evolutionary shifts in the natural world. INSCRIBED by Hull to fellow philosopher of science Elliott [Sober], with a letter laid in discussing the vagaries of academic positions. Sober is noted in the preface and cited several times in the references. Hardcover in jacket, as pictured. Light wear to book, minor bumping to corners, minor pencil marginalia; jacket shows some edgwear, minor creases & delamination, short tears & small chips; xiii, blank, 586 pages; appendixes, references, indexes. Size: Large Octavo.

Seller Inventory # z0260

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Science as a Process: An Evolutionary Account of the Social and Conceptual Development of Science
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press, Chicago
• Publication Date: 1988
• ISBN 10: 0226360504
• ISBN 13: 9780226360508
• Binding: Hard Cover
• Edition: First Edition.
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Good
• Signed: Inscribed by the Author
• Seller catalogs:
  • History of Science
  • Natural History
  • Signed Books

About this title

Synopsis

Hull applies an evolutionary model of selection processes to scientists and their work, showing that competition and cooperation among scientists result in the selective retention of new scientific ideas. As a model he offers a detailed history of theoretical struggles during the last two decades in systematic zoology, a field with which he's intimately acquainted. Hull shows that bias, personal commitments, and self-interest are the norm in science. He argues that scientific knowledge grows not in spite of these seeming flaws but because of them. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Review

Applies evolutionary models to the cultural and conceptual change of intellectual communities. Essential reading for anyone interested in how ideas evolve, and how best to describe these processes rigorously.